As we move into summer here at the Stone House, there is a battle raging. Volleys are launched from every side. Airstrikes, dive bombs, there’s chatter in the wind. The fighting is fierce, but before summer is over one will reign supreme…
Back off!
…over the Hummingbird feeder.
Today I salute those bold men and women on the front lines – staking their claim to that sugary water and holding off all comers.
Here’s to the heroes of summer – the sentries.
Looking skyward to face the enemy
Fending off an alien invasion
Keeping watch over his prize
Watching for an aerial assault
Keeping the enemy in her sights
Out on a limb to protect his supply line
Going the extra mile to spot the threat
Stalking the intruders
Staring down the enemy
Ducking for cover
Tracking the enemy’s movements
Aerial reconnaissance
Preparing to strike
Holding onto the high ground
The summer skies belong to you – the bold, the fierce, the hummers.
the eff stop 
Love this collection, and cannot possibly pick a favorite 🙂
Thanks! I feel the same way about all my patio warriors – I love them all!
❤
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Pretty! I like the one with the super long neck, looking left. 🙂
I love how they stretch their necks like that – it lets them take a drink and take a look around.
They’re super cute that way. I’ve never had luck with attracting hummingbirds. Not sure what the deal is. Heard advice from everyone and researched online. Not sure why I can’t attract them. I love ’em!
I think it depends a lot on location – I put up feeders last year and it took a couple of weeks – also I switched from premix to homemade nectar. I read that you can attract them with a stronger mix earlier in the season – 3:1 instead of 4:1
Thanks!
These are lovely, Lorri. 🙂 Do humming birds have nice personalities once this season is over or are they always territorial?
They are like this until October when they migrate. I think ounce for ounce they are the bossiest creature in the planet. I have 5 feeders up and they are constantly buzzing and diving with each other. The females are feeding like crazy, I’m guessing that they are feeding their first brood right now, I haven seen any young yet.
Made me smile! Love the humming birdies!
Thanks – glad they could brighten your day!
Such great shots! Don’t they have the most charming personalities – we had swarms come in early this year, but had to move the feeders off the porch while rescreening for a week – and they have not forgiven us yet – so only a few now. But they will come back – have a feeling I may need a part time job to buy sugar this year! K
They really are charming and I’m right there with you on the sugar – five feeders may have been a bit much. I read that you can increase the mix to 3:1 for a week to attract them and reduce it back to 4:1 to make them feed more often. I didn’t get mine out until late june last year so this is all a bonus for me – they’ll be back at your place soon! I am just now seeing the regular feeders picking up now that a lot of nesting is done – it’s been pretty quiet for the last three weeks except for the hummers.
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Great Shots! Simply Amazing 🙂
Thank you – I work with cooperative subjects 🙂
I’m sure the little creatures were pretty cooperative 🙂
They seem to be open to posing for me in exchange for sugar water – a pretty good deal IMO
Haha, I’m sure 🙂 Pretty lil creatures giving us their sweetness in exchange for sugar water. Quite a Fair deal I must say!
I agree!
Great photos
Thank you!
Beautiful images. I’ve always wanted to see hummingbirds in everyday life but sadly, in south africa, that’s not even vaguely an option. At least, with your pics, I’m able to appreciate it them. What gorgeous creatures ❤
Thanks – wow, no hummingbirds in South Africa – I would really miss them. They really are spectacular to watch.
Excellent…
Thank you for reading and commenting
love to see this great pics – in this day s we have the big water floot in EUROPE!! We made concert for the victims see on my wordpress-blog: http://veniteaustria.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/concert-for-the-victims-of-flood-wave-2013-in-europa/
Thanks for the link – those floods have been terrible!
yes, still ongoing. Two countries will have the flood the next days, praying..
Wow – praying her too!
Thank you!
Reblogged this on jatengposblog.
Life is a serious battle for survival. Thanks for showing how to survive from the front lines.
Keeping watch is as important as doing battle – at least it is here on the porch 🙂
Hummers are my favourite! Great shots..
Mine too! Thank you!
Fight on – I salute you! 😉
Salute!!
Awesome 🙂 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Since getting to know how territorial these little guys are, I am often delighted that they aren’t crow-sized. Mine dive bomb my head When I am filling their feeders!
I have a YouTube you will like.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=oZ24oBaO56w&feature=youtu.be&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DoZ24oBaO56w%26feature%3Dyoutu.be
Wow! That’s pretty amazing. I have seen the feeders that you hold in your hands – but this adds just the right amount of kooky to the package 🙂
I thought you’d be amused. And you can wear it anywhere!
It’s perfect for so many occasions – weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs.
!
Incredible shots, nothing like have a bunch of hummers around on a nice day…great colors and I also the captions on the photos were great. Cheers.
Thanks – you are right about that, I could spend hours with them.
You have introduced the striking colour of red into your photos that is heralding in your summer, and your post is singing out with vibrancy and warmth. Fantastic!
Ahhh – red, the color of hummers and summers 🙂 Thanks – they are a wonder to watch. The sunlight plays off their tiny feathers – I think they are magical.
Great captures. How did you keep yourself from being seen by the hummingbirds? I’ve never been able to capture one because I haven’t found a way to remain out of sight and get the shot.
Well, last year I started by shooting from inside my sleeping porch (it’s a catch all that a lot of old houses here have) I have a camp chair inside the porch and shoot through an open door. These days they are so used to me that I can stand outside with them and they still come – but the lighting is often better from just inside the doorway. They do more dive bombing when I am inside the doorway. I have never liked shooting through a window if I can help it.
Very nice captures! Like always…
Thank you!
Gorgeous photos, as always I am in awe of your talent.
Thanks – it helps to work with good models 🙂
Lol, it helps having a great camera that you know how to use, too.
Well, that does help – plus I’m a bird stalker.
Captivating photos! Birds are so beautiful.
Thanks – they are so much fun to watch.
Such beautiful shots! I love hummers. I’ve not seen any yet by my house, but they should be here soon. I’ve got a bunch of soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), they always flock to it when it’s blooming.
They are nesting in my crepe myrtle and feeding on the trumpet vines when they are not battling over the feeders.
hahaha! I love this. wonderful pictures too. I love hummers. 🙂
Thanks – they are so much fun to watch
Beautiful Captures:)
Thank you!
aaahhhh. the hummers! I need to get the feeder out this week.
I have 4 up on one side of the house and one on the back porch – very active right now.